SASKATOON — Kellie Wuttunee, the legal counsel for the family of Tobias Soosay, said they are still waiting for either the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital or the Saskatchewan Health Authority to reach out regarding concerns about an incident involving the care of the five-month-old baby while in hospital.
Baby Tobias has been under the care of said hospital since Sept. 1 of last year, after being born prematurely. However, Teelah Soosay says when she visited her son on April 7, she saw Baby Tobias’ right leg in a full cast, three days after seeing him in good spirits and doing well.
Teelah, according to a press release from the Federation of Indigenous Sovereign Nations, said she was not informed about the cast or how it came to be. She asked the on-duty physician about the incident that led to the full leg cast, but the doctor replied she also has no idea what happened. The family, since then, has been asking the hospital to provide answers.
Wuttunee told SASKTODAY.ca that neither the hospital nor the SHA has yet to contact the family, or her office as their representative.
“I assume that is going to be their next step. As of now, there hasn’t been any meeting with my client and the hospital or SHA.”
The SHA, in a statement issued by community engagement and communications media relations manager Doug Dahl, said they are going to make sure to communicate with the family throughout the course of the investigation.
“We are very sorry to hear about the concerns being raised by this family, and are working to ensure conversations with the family and their support, formal safety event processes and appropriate medical investigations are completed,” said Dahl, in a statement.
“While we cannot comment further on this particular situation due to privacy, we do take very seriously concerns like these and the SHA is committed to providing physical, psychological, social, cultural and environmental safety for everyone every day.”
FSIN leadership again condemned the incident on Wednesday, with Chief Bobby Cameron saying that families should feel safe whenever they leave their loved ones under the care of the hospital and its staff.
“This is unacceptable. When a mother leaves her child in the care of a hospital, she should be able to feel comfortable knowing her baby will be taken care of. First Nations people have Treaty and Inherent rights to Health,” said Cameron.
He added the FSIN executive will support the family, if they decide to seek any legal action against those involved on what happened to Baby Tobias.
“All we’ve inherited is racism and discrimination at the hands of some so-called healthcare providers. Baby Tobias deserves more. We intend to seek legal action if the family decides to proceed with it.”
FSIN First Vice Chief David Pratt echoed the same sentiments, adding that it was a disheartening incident that again involved a First Nations child, following the death of 13-month-old Tanner Brass last month.
“It’s a sad day that we’re here once again. A month ago we were here, meeting with the press regarding the death of another child that took place under the care and watch of the Prince Albert Police Service. Here we are a month later, another First Nations child with a broken leg, which is supposed to be under the care of the premier children’s hospital in Saskatchewan and not providing any answers as to how this happened or what took place,” said Pratt.
“A child doesn’t just break his leg by accident or by sitting in a crib. So, we have to determine what exactly took place. This can’t be covered up too often. As First Nations people, we’re dealing with incidents within the healthcare system as well as the justice system, and they’re swept under the rug. People look at it, ‘well it’s just another Indian. It doesn’t matter.’ Well, it does matter as every child matters.”
